Historical film examples

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE FOLLOWING HISTORICAL EXAMPLES EITHER DURING CLASS WORK, OR DURING THE BBFC TALK. PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR HISTORICAL EXAMPLES FROM THIS LIST:

From the BBFC talk
Billy the Kid
The Dam Busters
The Life of Brian

From Aminatta Forna’s documentary
The Birth of the Nation
Straw Dogs
Romper Stomper
Perdita Durango

From Mark Kermode’s documentary
Bambi
I Spit on your Grave
Breaking the Waves
Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer
Batbabe

From the DVD documentary clips
Intolerance
A Fool there Was
Battleship Potemkin
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
Nosferatu
The Seashell and the Clergyman
Frankenstein
Love on the Dole
Pastor Hall
Night and fog
Brighton Rock
The Wild One
Yield to the Night
The Room at the Top
Victim
The L-shaped room
Women in Love
The Devils
Straw Dogs
Clockwork Orange
The Exorcist
Emanuelle
Evil Dead
Driller Killer
Cannibal Holocaust
Scandal
The Karma Sutra
The Lover’s Guide
Child’s Play 3
Natural Born Killers
Crash
Boy Meets Girl
Pulp Fiction
Blade
Reservoir Dogs
Baise-Moi
The Last House on the Left

Week 7 lessons: 2 opposing arguments about film censorship

Homework 6/7: w/b 14th March

History of the BBFC and Film regulation

Deadline
13C - Weds 30th March
13D - Tues 29th March

For the exam, you need to be able to compare the BBFC and the film classification process to that of the past.

1. Read pp 4-25 in the BBFC student guide.
2. There is a more interesting way of looking at the same material (with pictures!) here
3. Create 7 posts, one to illustrate each time period in the history of the BBFC:

• 1912-49
• 1950s
• 1960s
• 1970s
• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s

4. For each post/decade you will need brief notes on:
i. Important developments at the Board
ii. Important developments to the system of film regulation
iii. Any legal developments and their impact on the way films were being regulated at the time
iv. Wider social/ political/cultural issues of the decade
v. 1 or 2 examples of key films from the time period and the issues they raised

5. In a final post, sum up in no more than 5 bullet points how the Board and the process of film classification is different now to that of the past

Week 6 Lessons

Different types of media research:

1. Media effects research (aims to 'prove' the negative effect of the media)
2. Academic or qualitative research (explores the nature of the relationship between the media and the audience, eg consideration of why a particular programme is popular)
3. Market research or quantitative research (audience habits, box office, ratings, website hits, tracking)

Effects research explores the following so-called effects:

Behavioural - aggression, crime
Psychological - fear of danger + crime, nightmares
Attitudinal - desensitisation, attitudes towards others

Which social groups are the most frequent subjects of a media effects study? 
Children
Young males
Youth criminals

Which media forms are most likely to be considered problematic? 
Video games
Rap lyrics
Television programmes
Cartoons
Films
Adverts

What methods are commonly used to study effects?
Heart monitors
Monitoring over long periods of time
Exposure to violent acts
Observation
Discourse (1 to 1 or focus group)

Concerns over this kind of research?

Here is the powerpoint on Media Effects research:

The role of research

View more presentations from latymermedia.

WEEK 3: POWERPOINTS

Classifying for children the issues

View more presentations from latymermedia.

The 4 topic prompts film

View more presentations from latymermedia.

Week 3: more clips

'18' guidelines

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence

• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals.This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault

• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.

In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

Sex education at ‘18’

Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.

Sex works at ‘18’

Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

'15' guidelines

Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs

12A guidelines

Drugs

Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.

Horror

Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.

Nudity

Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.

Sex

Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme

Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Violence

Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.

Discrimination

Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely

to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.

WEEK 2: CLASSIFYING FILMS FOR CHILDREN (U, PG, 12A, 15) further clips

Have a go at classifying these films: what age rating would you give them and what are the issues?

Casino Royale (embed disabled)

Juno (Embed Disabled)


Thirteen (Embed Disabled)